As every athlete knows, there is always a struggle on the path to success. “Goal! The Dream Begins” (2005) is a film that encompasses struggle, courage, perseverance and success. The main character is Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker), a soccer player in a regional club who gets scouted in the beginning of the film by a well-known English soccer scout, Glen Foy (Stephen Dillane), a former Newcastle United player.
“Goal!” is directed by Danny Cannon and is the first in a trilogy. This film was well-received due, in part, to the use of professional soccer players, with full allowance by FIFA. These well-known, professionally-trained players lend to the film’s authenticity. Many of the professionals that make a cameo throughout the film are well known, including Chicago Fire native, Brian McBride. Audiences also get an insider’s look into the workings of FIFA and national clubs that are not normally available when simply tuning into a match.
This movie is the “typical start with nothing and end with everything” story common in the sports-film genre but deviates from the cliché, as well. “Goal!” portrays an athlete’s personal struggle while encompassing nontraditional issues. Not only does this film explore the life of a young person struggling to make it in a world he does not really understand but it also showcases the responsibilities that a normal young man should not have to handle at his age while trying to be a superstar. When watching this film, the innocence of an emerging star is clearly visible, and viewers cannot help but root for Santiago.
Overall, this film is enjoyable and explores the whirlwind of struggles and triumphs of a determined young man who faces the world with all the intentions of succeeding no matter what. So, if you like soccer and enjoy a great success story, then “Goal! The Dream Begins” is the film to add to your list.
4 out of 5 stars